The USEF Network is live streaming the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Sessions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla. Some of the best young riders in the country are studying under George’s tutelage this week, learning to be master horsemen without any grooms or assistants around to help them care for their horses. The riders participate in a mounted session with George each morning and listen to lectures from top experts and riders in the afternoon. You can view the full schedule here. Watching the live stream means you’re going to catch some of the classic George Morrisisms, as well as the sarcastic comments for which he’s known and loved. It also means you’ll hear a treasure trove of gems of wisdom and knowledge from The Master. If you haven’t been tuning in to the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Sessions, be sure to watch the live stream tomorrow and Sunday.

We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

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Dr. Kim Keeton and Accolade won the 2009 4-year-old East Coast Young Event Horse Championships at Fair Hill.

Eventers dream of breeding and training their own superstar, but not many get the chance to actually do it. Dr. Kim Keeton bred Accolade, a 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion, as her first frozen insemination as a junior vet student at the University of Georgia. He was born into Kim’s lap at Coyote Creek Farm in Watkinsville, Ga., which she owns with her business partner Hope Thomas. Bred to be an event horse — he is by Olympic dressage stallion Amiral and out of Swedish-approved Her Elegancy (xx) — “Bear” quickly proved that he possessed the athleticism and determination needed to win. “He was the only baby we had that year, so he grew up with the big horses,” Kim said. “He was turned out with the OTTBs and he used to race them around the pasture and outrun them. Then he would do a fancy trot at the end like he was showing off. We were hoping he had the speed and desire to gallop and then could go do the fancy trots in the dressage ring.”

Kim and Bear competed in the Future Event Horse competition at Sporting Days Farm in 2008, where he won first place 3-year-old colt and was named reserve champion 3-year-old colt. Bear went into his 4-year-old year with Kim intending to participate in the Young Event Horse series. He won his first YEH class at Cedar Ridge, finishing with a 78.79% — the highest score awarded in all the YEH and FEH classes at that event. Bear had the qualifying score he needed to attend the YEH East Coast Championships at Fair Hill, which he ended up winning. “It was typical Fair Hill weather: rainy and muddy,” Kim said. “He was just spot on. The harder the conditions, the better he goes, it seems. I was very intimidated going into it knowing that Leslie Law and Buck Davidson and all the big-name trainers would be there with their very fancy imports and homebreds. I definitely didn’t expect to go and come out on top.”

Accolade as a 3-year-old on his way to winning his FEH class at Sporting Days Farm.

At the end of Bear’s 4-year-old year, an opportunity opened up for Kim to take her vet practice across the pond for two years. “I think every eventer dreams of competing in England,” Kim said. “When Mike and Emma Winter moved to England, I joked that I would follow them over to compete.” Thanks to Roger Haller’s contacts and a series of serendipitous events, Kim got the chance when a position opened at a prestigious vet practice near Mike and Emma’s yard. “The goal was to take my Intermediate horse, who ended up having some lameness issues,” Kim said. “So I took Bear as an afterthought, but it ended up being the best thing for him to do his 5-and 6-year-old seasons in England. The way British Eventing presents the course questions, the superior tracks and footing, and the opportunity to run every weekend — it was all just such excellent exposure for him.”

Kim believes Bear benefited tremendously from being introduced to the different course designs in England, which tend to be shorter and ask more questions in quicker succession. “His first event there was at  BE 90, which is equivalent to novice in the U.S., and there was a corner with no options,” Kim said. “You had to ride your line and you had to ride it correctly and accurately. So from the very beginning he was learning about more advanced questions like corners. I don’t think he ever saw a bank without something before it, or a down bank without a narrow after. That prepares them for questions they’ll see from their very first drop, and it certainly develops their cross-country skills from day one. The tracks are also shorter. I ran a novice track over there, which is the equivalent of preliminary in the U.S., and the optimum time was 3:40. It was a short track, but you had to be able to gallop at 520 (meters per minute) and get it done. The horses learn that from beginning.”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rkuzlz7e38
Accolade’s first event in 2009 at Champagne Run 

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Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll hear more about Kim and Bear’s adventures in England and how she struggled with bringing him back to the States. “I ran a CCI1* and came back when he was 6 turning 7, and it was very hard for me to run him preliminary after all the experience he gained,” Kim said. “I struggled with his age and how talented he was, because I didn’t want to push him to intermediate too soon. I did find that some of the preliminary tracks didn’t hold him, just because he’d been in such a different environment. In England, questions come up very quickly because you don’t have the long galloping tracks. Here we have a lot more gallop, jump, gallop, jump, with a little bit of a gallop to get them back. Even moving up to intermediate, I struggled to grasp how to gallop so that he was prepared for the questions.”

Tate is a total ham for the camera and followed me around while I was trying to take pictures.

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Manoir De Carneville, Sinead Halpin’s four-star mount, was already a superstar in my books. Add in a second-place finish at Burghley and the fact that he’s the only horse on the USEF Global Spring Training List and it’s very clear that “Tate” is one special horse. I had the privilege of getting to know him on a more personal level during the two days I spent at the Howdaa Working Student Bootcamp, which was held last weekend at Sinead’s new facility at Autumn View Farm in Long Valley, N.J. The place is gorgeous — a worthy home for one of, if not THE top horse in U.S. eventing. I caught up with Sinead’s head groom Meg Kep between my working student duties to ask some burning questions.

On Tate’s time off post Burghley

Tate has been back in work since Dec. 9, which marked 90 days off since he landed from England after wowing the world at Burghley. He’s up to an hour of walking each day now and will start trot work after four weeks of walking. “He looks really good — better than he ever has after time off,” Meg said. “He hasn’t lost all of his muscle tone. I was also worried about moving him to the new facility, because he’s not keen on change.” But Tate immediately fell in love with a pair of Clydesdales that were staying at the facility when Sinead first moved in. “We turned them out together and that chilled him out completely,” Meg said. Tate is still rocking his winter woolies, and Meg doesn’t see a reason to clip him until he starts trotting.

On Tate’s competition schedule for 2013

While Tate’s 2013 competition schedule is not set in stone, Meg seemed confident his spring schedule will include Rolex. “The schedule has changed a few times because we thought about going overseas,” Meg said. Sinead will be based with Clayton Fredericks in Ocala starting Jan. 31, and Tate’s first event of the season will be running Advanced at Pine Top on Feb. 22. Tate will definitely run The Fork in April, with Southern Pines and Red Hills also on the list of potential events. If Tate does run Rolex, Meg indicated his year will likely also include a trip to France to tackle the WEG test event at Haras du Pin.

Tate is back in work after 90 days off after Burghley. He is currently walking an hour a day on the trails, or in the indoor on particularly nasty days.

On being the sole pair on the Global List

Sinead and Meg had no idea Tate would ultimately be the only horse named to the USEF Global Spring Training List. “When the USEF emailed and told us, they didn’t tell us who else was on the list, and we didn’t know the criteria,” Meg said. “Tate absolutely deserves to be on the Global List. I was surprised Allison (Springer and Arthur) wasn’t on there too, because she’s worked really hard.”

On moving past the Olympics

It was refreshing to hear Meg talk about the disappointment of narrowly missing the Olympic team with a healthy dose of perspective. “It becomes a mental game,” Meg said. “We were trying to make the team for the first time and there’s a lot of pressure on you. Having all that pressure build up to such a big disappointment was a huge blow. But after that it was like we had nothing else to prove. We had a pity party for about a week, but then you realize how lucky you are — how many people are first alternate for the Olympics?”

On the importance of fostering camaraderie in future teams

David O’Connor has made it clear that he wants to select teams earlier in order to allow for more time to build team spirit and unity among members. “I think that’s the only way forward, and I think everyone both on and off the teams would agree,” Meg said. “It’s hard to be excited when you’re left off the team, and that took away from the experience for everyone who did make it. Everyone was supportive, of course, but if they had picked the team and then moved to a different location and shipped the alternates in and out, I think it would have helped the actual team a lot.”

On taking a yoga class with Will Coleman and Boyd Martin

As the riders and grooms alike were left with a lot of time on their hands in England with far fewer horses to care for than usual, everyone found ways to fill their days. Meg took a yoga class with Boyd Martin and Will Coleman in their spare time. While I promised Meg I wouldn’t embarrass Boyd and Will too terribly, I’ll leave you with this: one of them was not nearly as proficient at yoga as he claimed, and one of them found yoga a bit more challenging than he originally anticipated. “I’ve never seen anyone sweat so much in my life,” Meg said.

Fellow Howdaa working student Deena Cahill, left, helped yours truly, right, conquer the icy ramp to the manure spreader, a feat we celebrated rather enthusiastically. Photo courtesy of Meg Kep.

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I had a fantastic opportunity to be a working student for Sinead Halpin Eventing last weekend thanks to the Howdaa Working Student Bootcamp. Howdaa, a new online education portal launched by Meg Kep and Dana Romano, provides live classes, discussions, and hands-on opportunities with equine experts and professionals. This Working Student Bootcamp was Howdaa’s first offering, giving the chance to work in Sinead’s barn for two days while learning about barn management, horse care, nutrition, and show turnout. While we covered many topics over two days, I promised Dana and Meg I wouldn’t unveil all the details. You’ll have to take a Howdaa bootcamp to learn all the secret sauce for yourself; the next one is scheduled for Jan 26-27. But here’s a quick breakdown of the most valuable tips and interesting tricks I learned as a working student for Sinead Halpin Eventing.

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“Work smarter, not harder.”

Meg is a big believer in working smarter, not harder. In a top eventing barn, where time can quickly slip away from you, it’s critical to effectively manage your time in order to maximize the day. To stick to this philosophy, Meg only uses two bridles for all the horses scheduled to be worked each day. Each horse has its own bridle, but the daily tack cleaning regiment means Meg and her team — which currently includes working students Addie French and Sarah Rupert — would end up doing a lot more cleaning if they used each horse’s personal bridle. So the team rotates two bridles, adjusting them as needed and switching in bits depending on the horse. The team also picks hooves into a small bucket that permanently lives in the aisle, a trick Meg picked up during her summer at Maizey Manor. This keeps debris out of the aisle and leaves less of a mess to be swept throughout the day.

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Hard vs. soft deadlines

Meg emphasized the importance of setting hard and soft deadlines as a working student. For example, Sinead starts riding the horses at 8 a.m., which is a hard deadline. Meg plans the rest of the morning’s schedule around that time, meaning horses are fed at 7 a.m., followed by getting the first horse ready for Sinead and mucking. Other examples of hard deadlines would be vet calls and client visits. Soft deadlines are then structured around the hard deadlines, because soft deadlines can be moved and changed throughout the day as needed. Some examples of soft deadlines would be cleaning tack and scrubbing water buckets. A working student’s job is to keep the barn running on schedule, so it’s critical to stick to those hard deadlines. Meg does that by writing the day’s schedule on one of her many whiteboards and placing it on a shelf in the barn aisle where the entire team can see it.

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Show turnout tips & tricks

I was especially excited to hear Meg’s tips and tricks on show turnout, since Tate always looks super shiny and lovely at the big three-days. When it comes to mane pulling, Meg pulls the mane over multiple days, starting about a week before the event. After she’s pulled the mane, she uses a surgical glove to pull off little uneven bits to achieve a perfectly straight mane. She also uses surgical gloves to pull the tail and recommends applying a wet tail bandage before dressage, which can quickly be pulled off after warm up to reveal a fabulously smooth tail. Instead of using pricey ShowSheen to condition coats, Meg swears by her trusty Hair Moisturizer from Healthy HairCare, which she uses daily to promote healthy coats. She also uses antibacterial Palmolive to give baths, instead of more expensive specialty shampoos. And here’s a random trivia fact: Meg can fit 33 braids into Tate’s mane.

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Upper-body strength, or lack thereof

While I realize this isn’t really a tip, I thought it important to comment on the importance of upper-body strength as a working student. The daily stall-mucking routine at SHE involves pushing full wheelbarrows up a steep ramp and dumping them into the manure spreader. I successfully did this once with a smaller wheelbarrow on the first morning of my working student stint — after a running start and a grunt a la Serena Williams. But once the snow started falling and conditions became slippery, the ramp started winning. Us Howdaa working students ended up each taking a side of the wheelbarrow and pushing it up the ramp together. I’m sure if I was pushing wheelbarrows up the ramp every day it would eventually become easier — Meg made it look like cake — but my tiny guns just couldn’t cut it. So if you’re hoping to be a working student in the near future, start lifting weights now.

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Thank you, Howdaa

This is just a very small taste of my two days as a working student for Sinead Halpin Eventing. We fed. We mucked. We tacked horses. We cleaned. We scrubbed. We swept. We organized. We watered. We also listened to two very informative  lectures. Dana, who used to work for Buckeye, talked about building and maintaining an equine nutrition program, and local vet Dr. Jaime Horner talked about major muscle groups and diagnosing lameness. For someone like me who works an office job and will likely never be a full-time working student, the Howdaa Working Student Bootcamp provided a wonderful learning experience. Having one of the sport’s leading head grooms critique and correct your skills — from wrapping and tack cleaning to braiding and tail pulling — is just invaluable. So bookmark the Howdaa website, follow the blog, and get ready to take advantage of incredible learning opportunities. Go Howdaa.

Photo by Eric Swinebroad

In arguably the first move that has made any sense since Rulegate started last month, the FEI has posted lists on its website that break down athlete categorization by country. This will be incredibly helpful for riders looking to track their Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), as well as view their categorization. Needless to say, you’re going to want to bookmark this page. Note that for 2013, the provision to implementing the new rules includes 15 MERs for each categorization, whereas 20 MERs will be required in 2014.  Scroll to the bottom of this page to view the athlete categorization lists.

FEI Athlete Categorization Lists by country:

ARG, AUS, AUT, BEL, BLR, BRA, BUL, CAN, CHN, CZE, DEN, ECU, ESP, FIN,

FRA, GBR, GER, GUA, HUN, IRL, ITA, JAM, JPN, LTU, MEX, NED, NZL, POL,

POR, ROU, RSA, RUS, SUI, SVK, SWE, THA, UKR, USA

Here's a look at the category A and B riders from the USA list.

Margot's students and boarders surprised her with handmade jumps for Christmas.

We love hearing from our readers, especially when you tell us about a good deed or act of kindness that takes place in the eventing community. Margot Wolman, owner of Liberty View Farm in Carroll County, Md., sent us this email to share the very generous gift her students and boarders gave her for Christmas. Kudos to the Liberty View family for working very hard on such a lovely gift!

From Margot:

Everyone asks: “So what did you get for Christmas?”

I got the most beautiful jumps — HANDMADE by my boarders and students — again! Two years ago they did this and I sobbed like a baby. I was much more composed this year, but no less moved. Few barns have this awesome group about whom they can brag. It’s bittersweet for me this year, as I haven’t been able to ride because of an injury and my gorgeous eventer got hurt last April and is out of the game permanently. But these gorgeous jumps gave me that funny feeling in my gut to get back in the game again. I don’t want to be left out anymore!

 Aren’t they awesome!?

The jumps Margot's students and boarders handmade for her Christmas present.

The four Thoroughbreds participating in the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s 100-Day Challenge have now been in training at Steuart Pittman’s Dodon Farm for four weeks. All have progressed immensely since beginning work under Steuart’s tutelage, but each one still presents unique challenges that the Dodon team is patiently addressing. Steuart’s training reports, which he posts on the RRTP website every week, are an excellent example of the type of expertise and hard work it takes to retrain an off-track Thoroughbred. Each report — I’ve included excerpts from the most recent installment below —  is packed with excellent advice. Even if you’re not currently training on OTTB, Steuart’s comments still offer a wonderful perspective on training youngsters in general.  Alluring Punch, Declan’s Moon, Gunport and Suave Jazz will all make their public debut in three weeks at the Maryland Horse Expo.

Steuart thinks 3-year-old Alluring Punch has major upper-level potential.

Steuart’s thoughts on Alluring Punch:

Alluring Punch has shown us his jumping talent and wowed us with his movement and natural balance, but he still feels a little like a pinball for the first ten minutes of each ride. His relationship with the bit is more confrontational than the other three horses. Even when there is minimal contact from the rider he starts out hurling his head about, sometimes just making the point that he will not be controlled by the bit and other times using his head to initiate a change of direction away from the one he knows we are pursuing.

I had felt poor Punchy sulking a bit, then surging into the bridle, then sulking again. My job then was to look for and find a rhythm and a direction that would make him happy again, and restore his trust in the contact. We found that yesterday in the canter. In that gait he is most rhythmic, straight, and balanced. He becomes happy. It is almost like a mental break for him, after which he does better at the walk and trot.

All of the struggles with this horse are a function of his youth and the short amount of time he has been in training. Both Michelle and I agree that he is just about ideal as a prospect for upper level eventing. He will be one hell of a five year old if he ends up in the right hands.

Declan's Moon continues to challenge Steuart, but that hasn't suppressed his enthusiasm for the horse one bit.

Steuart’s thoughts on Declan’s Moon:

They say he is a gelding, but neither he nor I believe that to be the case (at least in our minds). There is a certain feeling of sharpness that I always felt from Salute The Truth, the Thoroughbred stallion that I competed for many years and now stand on the farm. I always had to be thinking about what might come next, because the stallion’s mind is so independent and creative, and the physical movements can come as fast as lightning. I loved that feeling, even though it was always accompanied by a little fear.

We lost a week of training due to the bruise on his hind foot, but have had a good week back. The cold weather and a bit of snow put a little more spark in Declan. The other day I put him on the longe line for a couple of trot circles before mounting and saw a little of what I’d like to avoid while on his back. It is all very deliberate when he steps out of line and he knows he’s being bad. Whether it is his snarl when he doesn’t want his mane pulled, his threats to other horses who get too close in the arena, or his tendancy to stop, drop his head, swing it in a circle and kick because I squeezed my legs to go forward, it is all done very deliberately.

He also gets to do a little playing over jumps this week. I can’t wait.

Gunport is growing more confident in herself, slowly but surely.

Steuart’s thoughts on Gunport:

Yesterday was a bit of a surprise with Gunport. She had started out every ride before that with jigging away from the mounting block and not really walking until after some trot and canter work. Yesterday was her first day back with a bit in her mouth. The cut on her lip was finally healed completely. I doubt that had anything to do with the change, but she stood to be mounted and walked off rather than jigged. We worried that something migh be wrong with her.

Also good news was that she accepted the bit in her mouth and was more responsive than with the bitless bridle. She seemed very comfortable with the connection and while sometimes behind the vertical she was nicely connected. It is still all about trust and routine with Gunport. We can’t make her settle, but we can allow her to settle. The Expo environment will be difficult for her, particularly the stabling. We will do everything we can for her but in the end she will need to decide that she is in fact as wonderful as all of you think she is and choose to bask in her glory.

Suave Jazz went foxhunting with Steuart recently, which shows how far he's come.

Steuart’s thoughts on Suave Jazz:

Suave Jazz continues to shine as the most trainable horse ever. Every single day he does his very best. His connection in the bridle is honest and even and he moves away from leg pressure immediately. The hardest part of the flat work has been the canter. He is so accustomed to bearing down in to the bridle and clawing at the ground to pull himself along that shifting his balance to his hindquarters and slowing down his rhythm is a foreign concept. The thrilling part is that he is starting to get even that already.

Most days we start out with a fairly long period of walk with a little shoulder fore and leg yielding to supple him and remind him where the boundaries are. Then we trot for a while and find rhythm and as much relaxation as we can get out of his tight back. When it’s time to canter we start in two point, well up over his withers to allow him to get comfortable in his rhythm, first around the whole arena and then on circles. Finally I sit in the saddle, put the inside leg on firmly and encourage him to raise his poll. We do this first on the circle. In the first weeks he would fall in so badly that just keeping him cantering was difficult. Now we get a full circle with a shape much more like we want from a sport horse. It is a huge effort for him and he’s not ready to canter down to jumps that way, but it’s great to feel him getting it for short periods. We always let him come back to trot from the good canter.

Jazz is also jumping whatever we face him with, but we are keeping it small and doing it mostly from the trot. He is game and smart about it.

Much has been said and analyzed since the USEF released its Spring Training Lists two weeks ago. While most everyone in the eventing community has an opinion about who should have made, the vast majority were disappointed to see Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz left off the lists once again. While Colleen could have thrown herself a pity party, she showed incredible poise and determination in the aftermath of the decision, as evidenced by a recent blog post in which she discusses her perspective on being left off the lists. Considering 2013 is just around the corner and it’s time to set New Year’s Resolutions and new goals, I thought this would provide some much-needed encouragement and motivation. Go eventing.

From Colleen’s blog:

Brian found (the image above) for me, and, well, it pretty much sums up my directives for the New Year. I will achieve my goals, come hell or high water. (Please not high water; that was last year.)

I was disappointed (to say the least) to not make any of the training lists, but the other side of that coin is, I have freedom to achieve my goals. It is what it is. I can’t change anyone’s mind about me, and I’m not sure I want that kind of responsibility. I want people to believe that I can and will, not that I might. Last year, I was upset about the situation, but I persevered; we had a good year, not great. We mostly improved, but now we need improvement and polish. This year, I’m beyond determined — fiercely focused and absolutely driven to not only achieve, but to surpass my goals.

Pau. We survived the carnage. Am I happy? With my horse, yes. He gave me what I asked him for. With me? Absolutely not. That cross country exploited every one of my weaknesses when I was already shaky on MY confidence. The show jumping intimidated me because of cross country. But did I learn from that debacle? Absolutely. Do I want to go back and do it better? Without question. I have sat down and gone over the films repeatedly, identifying the pieces that are currently being addressed. We all can watch Luke’s dressage and say what it doesn’t have, but there is no quick fix for teaching a horse how to compress and fold his post-straight legs underneath of him more to appear more uphill. It’s just a very slow, arduous process that can’t be rushed on an easily bruised dressage ego. In order for him to be successful in dressage, he needs to think that he’s as big of a bad @$$ as he knows he IS in jumping phases and that everything is easy in the ring. I believe that we are finally getting there. Show jumping is all about less is more with him; we will be spending our spring working on finesse and I’m sure lots of 10-pound fishing line to stop my tug.

CR (Colleen’s talented homebred) has started a list for this year. He’s taking names and leaving no prisoners. He’s almost more determined than I am to prove to himself that he is a rockstar in his own right.

I have a number of new prospects that I’m excited to have joining us. We are all looking forward to heading to Aiken soon, considering it won’t stop snowing. At least I have a nice indoor.

I know for a fact that I would not be where I am without everyone who has supported me. I think about each and everyone of you everyday, and thank goodness for all of you.

– Colleen

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney

Many moments stick out as highlights for 2012, such as Michael Jung and Sam winning individual and team gold for Germany.

With 2013 right around the corner, it’s time to take a look back on the year’s most influential days in eventing. While there are many ways to track and analyze what qualifies as a “big day” in our sport, my method entailed looking at Eventing Nation’s Google Analytics to see which days garnered the most page views throughout the year. Considering this was an Olympic year and Rolex played heavily into who was selected for Team USA, it’s no surprise that these top 10 days are all about Rolex and the Olympics. I hope you enjoy the walk down memory lane, as I’ve also included the top posts from each day. The prevalance of Rolex and Olympic posts in the top 10 also show that you value Eventing Nation as your go-to source for live event coverage. We appreciate the support and vow to continue bettering and expanding our live coverage in the coming years. Go 2012.

1. Olympic Cross-Country Day — Monday, July 30

Not only was cross-country day in London the most-attended Olympic event at the Games, but it also garnered the most EN page views for the year. And it’s really no surprise, as cross country led to some major shakeups on the leader board and ultimately sank Team USA’s chances at a medal. If you look at EN’s Monday Cross-Country Open Thread presented by SmartPak, you’ll also quickly remember many of the other heartbreaking scenarios that took place on Olympic cross-country day. After an incredible showing at the 2010 WEG, the entire eventing community mourned with Canada as a bit of bad luck quickly turned into a lot of bad luck. I’ll also never forgot yelling at my laptop screen as I tried to will Yoshiaki Oiwa, the overnight dressage leader, to stay in the saddle after his horse jostled him loose down that blasted drop fence. In typical cross-country fashion, it was a day of thrills and spills.

Ingrid Klimke and Sara Algotsson-Ostholt are Tied for the Olympic Lead

Amistad Withdrawn from Olympics and Retired Due to Tendon Tear

Michael Pollard: Olympic Cross-Country in London

2. Olympic Show Jumping and Medals — Tuesday, July 31

Show jumping day might as well have been dubbed “The Michael Jung Show.” Sara Algotsson-Ostholt and Wega pulled a heartbreaking rail on the last jump to give Michael and Sam the individual gold medal, making Ze Terminator the first rider to simultaneously hold the Olympic, World and European titles. Show jumping also led to some other major shakeups. Mark Todd and Campino and Mary King and Imperial Cavalier were favorites to medal, but multiple rails for both kept them off the podium. Show jumping day was not a bright spot for Team USA, but a new year means new chances and new outlooks. If David O’Connor and the USEF have anything to say about it, Team USA will be on the podium in Rio.

Michael Jung and Sam Win Individual and Team Gold

Video: Mark Todd and the Kiwis are Teaching London How to Party Tonight

Michael Jung and Sam Just Made History in Every Way Imaginable 

Team Show Jumping Round: Germany 1st, Team GB 2nd, Kiwis 3rd

Olympic Final Jog Report: Boyd Martin Withdraws Otis

Yoshiaki Oiwa and Noonday de Conde moved into first after Day 2 of dressage.

3. Olympic Dressage Day 2 — Sunday, July 29

The weather factored heavily into Day 2 of dressage at London, with ominous storm clouds and strong winds rolling in throughout the afternoon. The skies finally opened up during Tina Cook’s test aboard Miners Frolic, which led to the officials calling a 10-minute rain delay just as Niklas Lindback and Andrew Nicholson were preparing to start their tests. Andrew was furious about the rain delay, and he publicly lambasted the Olympic officials for their decision. At the end of Day 2 of dressage, Japanese rider Yoshiaki Oiwa led the Olympics, and John discovered that Yoshi likes to sprinkle salt over himself and his horse before he rides. This revelation led to eventers clearing out the salt shelves at their local supermarkets.

Yoshiaki Oiwa of Japan is Winning the Olympics After Dressage

Nicholson isn’t Afraid to Tell the Ground Jury Where to Put Their Rain Delay

Dressage Leader Yoshiaki Oiwa, as Portrayed By His Olympic Bio

4. Wednesday Jogs at Rolex — Wednesday, April 25

I found it interesting that jogs and not cross country or another competition day at Rolex had so many page views. I imagine it’s because you highly educated and intelligent readers understand the paramount importance of Wednesday jogs at a big four-star. It’s the day that makes or breaks the rest of the event for the horses and riders, as getting spun is always a possibility. Or you were just so out-of-your-minds excited about Rolex that you couldn’t stand it anymore and felt compelled to read our excellent pre-event coverage? Either way, thanks for the clicks.

First Horse Inspection: 58 Pairs Move on to the Rolex Dressage

Your Rolex 2012 Cross-Country Course Preview

Wednesday Morning at Rolex Rolex and its Olympic Implications

Ingrid Klimke and Butts Abraxxas led the Olympics after Day 1 of dressage.

5. Olympic Dressage Day 1 — Saturday, July 28

Many of you joined us in the EN live blog to follow along on Day 1 of dressage, during which we offered commentary on the tests and observations about the riders. Russian rider Andrei Korshunov is fondly remembered as having the best ‘stache ever. We also observed that white padded leather seemed to be making a comeback as an equine fashion trend. Ingrid Klimke and Butts Abraxxas led at the conclusion of Day 1 on a 39.3. Three riders would ultimately pass them on Day 2 of dressage, including Mark Todd, which delighted eventing fans around the world.

Ingrid Klimke Leads the Olympics After Dressage Day 1

This Soulja Boyd (Martin) Olympic Video will Blow Your Mind

Forgot Dressage, Check Out This Great Olympic Cross-Country Video

6. Sunday at Rolex — Sunday, April 29

While many stories developed out of Rolex, one of the biggest, in my humble opinion, has to be Allison Springer’s incredible achievement with Arthur. Although he was a horse that no one really believed in, Allison never gave up on him. She was rewarded with second place at Rolex, and while she didn’t make the Olympic team, a top-10 finish at Burghley later in the year is nothing to sneeze at. Of course, William Fox-Pitt’s win on Parklane Hawk — and his overall awesomeness in general — meant many of us expected to see him on the individual medal podium in London. William ultimately finished the Olympics in 27th aboard Lionheart, which just goes to show you that anything can happen in this sport.

Sunday Morning at Rolex

Jog Report: 27 Horses Move on to Show Jumping at Rolex

William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk Win the Next Stage of the Rolex Triple Crown

It was never in doubt that Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper would be named to the Olympic team. While they didn't perform as expected in London, their nearly flawless spring campaign should be remembered as an excellent effort.

7. Olympic Team Announced — Monday, July 2

The lead-up to naming Team USA had to be one of the most dramatic and suspenseful announcements in recent years. With so many talented riders and horses on the short list, it seemed like a nearly impossible task for the selectors to decide who would make the cut. John speculated the morning of the announcement that the team would be Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper, Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere, Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville, Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott, and Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. He noted that Tiana was only the tiniest bit ahead of Will Coleman and Twizzel in his book. The EN picks were oh so close, and the eventing community was especially surprised — and outraged, in some cases — that Sinead and Tate were left off the list. But the two showed grace and determination in the aftermath, placing 2nd at Burghley and most recently being the only pair named to the USEF’s Global Spring Training List.

London Selection Predictions: Too Many Good Options for Team USA

Team USA Pending USEF Executive Committee Approval

Team USA: The Social Media Reception

8. Tragedy Strikes Pollard Eventing — Sunday, May 27 — 42,876 views

It’s difficult to put into words how heartbroken the eventing community was after the tragic trailer accident that claimed the lives of three Pollard Eventing horses, including upper-level superstars Jude’s Law and Icarus. While I hesitated to include such a sad story in this year-end recap, I chose to do so because the high number of page views — and subsequent outpouring of love and support to Michael and Nathalie — shows how much the eventing community cares about each of its members, both human and equine. Michael has since launched Road to Recovery, a trailering safety campaign that seeks to raise awareness for equine welfare on the road. Best wishes for a brighter 2013, Michael. You deserve it.

Jude’s Law Euthanized

RIP Icarus

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister weren't among our predictions for the Olympic short list, but we ultimately correctly guessed that they would be named to Team USA.

9. Olympic Short List Announced — Monday, June 11

Just like with the team announcement, John made his top 10 predictions for the Olympic Short List: Mystery Whisper, Mighty Nice, Manoir De Carneville, Neville Bardos, Otis Barbotierre, Mr. Medicott, Andromaque, Twizzel, Loughan Glen and Arthur. Will Faudree and Andromaque ultimately didn’t make the list, while Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister and Marilyn Little and RF Rovano Rex were named. In addition to all the excitement about the U.S. short list, this day was also influential in the eventing world because Great Britain and Canada named their Olympics eventing teams.

Are Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister in the Race for the Short List?

U.S. Olympic Short List Preview and Predictions

Team USA’s Short List Announced!

British Eventing Team Announced for London Games

Seven Thoughts on Team Canada

10. Rolex Cross-Country Day — Saturday, April 28

I’m surprised to see Rolex cross-country day in 10th place, mostly because it was such a whirlwind day. If you remember, the course claimed quite a few riders very early on, including the first three out: four-star veterans Andrew Nicholson, Karen O’Connor and Becky Holder. Marilyn Little, a four-star rookie, ended up being the first rider to complete the course. Only seven horses completed the course double clear, including Otis Barbotierre with Boyd Martin aboard. Otis wasn’t really on the map as a major international competitor until then, as Rolex was his first four-star. Otis’ spectacular performance at Rolex — he finished third — put him on the Olympic selectors’ radar and ultimately led to him being named to the team over Neville Bardos, Boyd’s anticipated mount for London.

Morning Update: Saturday Morning Withdrawals From Rolex

Saturday Morning: Rolex XC Causes Mayhem, William Makes it Look Easy

Rolex XC Recap: William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk Take the Lead

Thrills and Spills: Saturday Cross-Country Videos

Boyd Martin hunting with the Cheshire Foxhounds yesterday morning. Courtesy of Alec Thayer.

Another winter storm hit the East Coast yesterday — lucky us. I experienced the snow firsthand during my stint as an honorary working student for Sinead Halpin Eventing, an opportunity provided by the Howdaa Working Student Bootcamp. Lesson 1: The show must go on — snow or no snow — as evidenced by Meg Kep taking a very bundled Tate on a long hack outdoors in near-blizzard conditions. Lesson 2: Captain Meg runs a ship-shape facility. Meg’s experience as a leading head groom means she not only commands respect but deserves it. It also means I felt like I had about six thumbs when she was critiquing — and subsequently correcting — my mediocre wrapping skills. Practice makes perfect, right? Tomorrow our little crew of Howdaa working students will be running the barn under Meg’s watchful eye. I’ll be bringing you lots more from Howdaa and SHE this week, including an update on Tate and a tour of Sinead’s new facility. Stay tuned!

 Your Sunday Links:

British Equestrian Federation Looks Back on 2012

Lauren Sprieser’s Almost Musical Year-End Review

Therapy Horses Comfort Families in Newtown

New York Times Reports on Drugging at Horse Shows

USEF Responds to Allegations Surrounding Pony’s Death

Study Suggests New Methods of Treating Lameness

What Options Are There During a Hay Shortage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBOhNMwBO8E
We can all empathize with this dressage fail. 

Madeline Parisan and Hope to Star. Photo credit to Steve Berkowitz.

Young rider Madeline Parisan — who was just interviewed for EN’s Rising Stars yesterday — was kicked by her horse last night and flown by helicopter to Johns Hopkins, where she was treated for a lacerated liver. Luckily, the injury will heal quickly, but she can’t ride for eight weeks. Madeline’s mom, Kim, said she will be back in the saddle in time for the spring season. Let’s all send well wishes to Madeline, who I’m sure could use some cheering up right now.

Madeline and her gelding Hope to Star, or Carson as he’s known around the barn, completed their first CIC* at Plantation Field this year, where they placed 19th and fifth among other juniors. After running a full season at Preliminary in 2012, I’m sure Madeline has big plans for this season. The EN team is happy to hear that this injury won’t keep her on the sidelines for too long. Chin up, Madeline. Kick on!

We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

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Kate Chadderton and Civil Liberty. Photo by Le Cheval Photography.

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Last week we met Civil Liberty, a quirky 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred co-owned by Kate Chadderton and Patrick McCaun. After recovering from a freak accident that led to surgery on a hind leg, Liberty, a 15.2-hand powerhouse, returned to top form this year. Since successfully running the one-star at Bromont this summer, Liberty moved up to run his first Intermediate at the Virginia Horse Trials in November. “I was really unsure of how he would handle the challenge, but he’s a real cross-country machine,” Kate said. “I shouldn’t have been unsure in hindsight. It was quite a tough Intermediate, with technical lines and things he hadn’t seen before.”

The first water jump on the Intermediate course had a log landing on dry ground, which then led into the water complex. “To him that was quite spooky because he likes to jump straight into the water,” Kate said. “But every fence it felt like he got more confident and he did not put a foot wrong.” Kate describes Liberty as a very hard worker who knows his job, particularly when it comes to going across the country. “He’s just really good at it. I don’t know if maybe he thinks he’s being naughty by going fast, or if he really wants to do it,” Kate said. “I ride him within a boundary, but I like to let him have his own character too. I find him quite entertaining, so I don’t really try to do too much to rein him in.”

Liberty enjoys a beer before his dressage test at Bromont.

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Kate describes Liberty as “a little bouncy ball,” full of energy and personality. Those character traits can come as both a blessing and a curse in the dressage, but Kate has found that Liberty generally rises to the occasion inside the little white box. “He’s a Thoroughbred. I’ve had 28s on him and I’ve had 45s on him,” Kate said. “The movement is never an issue; it tends to be more of the behavioral aspect. But he’s definitely improving. He’s just now learning the higher level movements. Whenever he’s learning something new, that tends to be when I get the most resistance. But once he knows something, he knows it. It’s a learning process with him.”

Kate, whose barn is mostly comprised of off-track Thoroughbreds, loves the athleticism of the breed, which she definitely sees in Liberty. “I think he’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” Kate said. “I’ve had horses that are nicer on the flat. I’ve had horses that have been easier to ride. But he’s just the best all-around type I’ve ever had. By the time he gets to Advanced, I think his dressage scores will be excellent. On cross country there’s never been a doubt that he’ll make the time. In show jumping he’s very workmanlike; he does his job and understands that he needs to leave the rails up. He has that potential to go all the way.”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emtmay5xWfs
Kate and Liberty tackle the Intermediate cross country on a very windy day at the Virginia Horse Trials 

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With 2013 just around the corner, Kate plans to go Preliminary with Liberty at Full Gallop at the end of January. Then the horse will move back up to Intermediate, with Kate planning to take him to both Pine Tops at that level. She also has her sights set on the two-star at Bromont, which is always one of her favorite events. “He’ll do Advanced toward the end of 2013, and then after that we’ll see,” Kate said. “I’ll probably be aiming for the Bromont three-star in 2014 and then the Fair Hill three-star, but I’ll let him make that decision.” That arrangement will suit opinionated Liberty quite well.

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Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll meet Dr. Kim Keeton, an equine vet and adult amateur, and Accolade, her 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion. Accolade won the East Coast Young Event Horse Championships as a 4-year-old before traveling to England with Kim when she crossed the pond to further her career. Now back in the States, Kim and Accolade are successfully going Intermediate and aiming for a two-star in 2013. Kerry Tracey tipped me about this great team: “I think it would be neat to hear about a talented young horse being brought up the levels by someone who is not a professional, and they are figuring it out together.” We agree. Thanks for the tip, Kerry!

The cross-country course at Greenwich Park. Photo courtesy of Tim Holekamp.

An article from yesterday’s Telegraph includes quotes from environmental experts who claim staging the Olympic equestrian events at Greenwich Park ruined the venue, going so far as to say the park “may never be the same again.” The activist group No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrianism (NOGOE) accused Olympic organizers of failing to maintain their original timeline of returning the park to its original state by the end of the year. “This is the only green space within walking distance for many thousands of people and the most popular, accessible part of the park will have been out of bounds for more than a year,” Sev D’Souza of NOGOE said in the article. “We were promised by (the organizers) that it would be back to normal as soon as was possible, but then they employed hardly any people to work on site so the work has not been completed. What we’re left with is a mess.”

The reporter describes the park as a “quagmire” and a “battlefield,” implying that much of the muddy and bare areas where turf has not yet been relaid can be blamed on the equestrian events. So who is at fault here? Should the Olympic equestrian events have been held outside the city, as the activists suggest, or will Greenwich Park recover to its former glory in due time? Let’s break this down. First, the article makes no mention of the record rainfall the UK saw this year. Met Office, which tracks UK weather patterns, says 2012 is on track to be the UK’s wettest year since 1910. We all remember that Badminton was canceled due to flooding and heavy rainfall, and the UK has been continually pummeled with storms since. Considering the Olympic organizers are dealing with extraordinary circumstances, I think it’s fair to ask that environmental groups cut them a bit of slack.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Activists are also claiming that “ancient trees” were damaged during the construction of the cross-country course and main stadium. NOGOE also maintains that the ecosystem of the park has been irreversibly damaged. So let’s get this straight. London, which was bombed for 57 consecutive nights during World War II, survived the Nazis, but the Olympic Games will ultimately prove to be this park’s downfall? I’m not buying it. If the ancient trees in Greenwich Park could weather major explosives during the largest war in the history of the world, I think it’s safe to say the park will live to fight another day. Once Olympic organizers can focus less on building an ark to survive the flooding and more on laying grass seed, I’m confident Greenwich Park will ultimately be remembered as the most beautiful venue and backdrop of the 2012 Games.

I’ve seen The Eventer’s Version of Jingle Bells floating around on Facebook and thought it was too good not to share. The eventer’s version of this popular Christmas carol is always credited to an unknown author. If you wrote this gem, please let me know at [email protected] so I can give you credit. Happy holidays and enjoy Christmas Day, Eventing Nation!

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Denny Emerson posted this photo on the Tamarack Hill Farm Facebook page yesterday: "Christmas at my parent`s farm in South Reading, Vermont, 50 years ago, was more like a Bing Crosby Christmas, or a 'traditional' Christmas than most Americans have known first hand. Sleighs with bells ACTUALLY drove by our house. It always was white. Plus, it being Vermont, cold. There was a fire in the fireplace. It all seemed normal back then."

The Eventer’s Version of Jingle Bells

Dashing ‘cross the course,
Nearly lost my reins,
O’er the jumps we go,
Gasping all the way!
One bell boot’s a miss,
We gave the crowd a fright,
But what fun it is to ride and think
We’re jumping at this height!
Riding fast, riding clear,
Riding all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
The cross-country course today.
Hey!

T’was just a day ago,
Our dressage went alright,
Aside from the bucking show,
And turning left not right.
Kept popping flying changes,
Whether we needed them or not,
But we made up for all these things
With a blinding medium trot!
Riding fast, riding clear,
Riding all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
The cross-country course today.
Hey!

One more day to go,
Must face the showjump course.
All those fancy poles,
Hope i’ll have a careful horse.
When the pressure’s on,
You’ve got to find the lines,
And be sure to keep your leg and wits,
To jump clear, under time!
Riding fast, riding clear,
Riding all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
The cross-country course today.
Hey!

Now the ground’s a blur,
Go it while you’re young,
Hear the thundering hooves,
And sing this eventing song.
Just get a gutsy bay,
One with scope and speed,
Don’t muck up on dressage day
And crack! You’ll take the lead!
Riding fast, riding clear,
Riding all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
The cross-country course today.
Hey!

Riding fast, riding clear,
Riding all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride
The cross country course today.
HEY!

Boyd hacks Otis, who is trotting up sound and recovering well. Photo via Boyd's blog.

The eventing community has been abuzz since the USEF released its Spring Training Lists on Friday. I offered some commentary on the lists here, focusing in particular on some notable riders and horses left off the lists. Otis Barbotiere, Boyd Martin’s Olympic mount, was one of the more surprising omissions. I speculated that perhaps Otis was experiencing some ongoing unsoundness issues we didn’t know about, or that his rehabilitation wouldn’t be complete in time to go to the spring training sessions. Boyd blogged about Otis’ absence from the lists yesterday, confirming that he believes the USEF did not place the horse on the list due to the timing of his recovery. The good news is Otis is trotting up sound and currently hacking 40 minutes a day. While Boyd said Rolex might be a stretch at this point, he’s optimistic that Otis will be ready for Luhmuhlen and Pau. Go Otis.

Your Sunday Links

Ex-Racehorses in Spotlight After Fatal Injury

Equine Canada Offers Cross-Country Design Course

New App Helps Measure Distances, Set Courses

Boyd Martin Shares His Thoughts on Training Lists

CBS Sports Network to Air Show Jumping Christmas Day

Totilas’ Owners Face Cruelty Investigations

Alltech Seeks to Honor Equine Heroes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVI4fyXo9cY
A little offseason inspiration.

The cheetahs at the Houston Zoo got an early Christmas present when Sam Houston Race Park allowed the animals to run on the grass track — with no horses around, of course. Cheetahs need about 600 feet to reach top speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, so the staff set up a lure on the racetrack covering that distance. Much like the lures you see at Jack Russell Terrier races, the staff reeled in a stuffed duck while the cheetahs happily chased after it. This is just a great, feel-good video that shows a kind gesture from the horse community. Go cheetahs!

The Winter Q&A Series gives Eventing Nation readers a forum to ask their most burning winter-training questions. Panelists Katie Murphy, Doug Payne, Denny Emerson and Jennie Brannigan will answer reader-submitted questions through March, with their answers appearing each week on the blog. Have a question for our panelists? Submit it to [email protected]. Katie Murphy is answering today’s questions.

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What I'd like to have in the barn to warm up on cold winter days. Photo via Horsetrader.

Do you give your competing event horses time off in the winter? If so, how long? (From EN reader Linda)

Katie: My horses always get time off. Most of their vacation falls over the holiday period. By then, their competition season is finished, and the reduced daylight hours make it difficult to ride after my office job. My four-year-old Novice horse will enjoy about six weeks off, then I will pick back up with some fun rides through the snow and on the dirt roads (footing permitting — we get ice up here — and temperatures). When I was preparing to move up to Intermediate with a previous partner, Fitty had four weeks off during the holidays, then picked back up with a more relaxed schedule with lots of hacking about four times a week through January. Quite often, I give them a few days off here and there during the warm months, depending on our competition schedule and their fitness for their level of competition.

The indoor arena at my barn is pretty small, so I really can’t jump full courses during the winter. What is your favorite grid exercise to set up in a small space? (Submitted by EN reader Jenna)

Katie: I set up simple trot poles to a crossrail, a 9-foot pole on landing with a one stride to a vertical with another landing pole. You can then build the crossrail to a small oxer and the vertical to an oxer. You can also include bounces in this same line: trot in over poles either to a bounce combination, or turn the vertical into a bounce combination with the 9-foot pole on landing at the end of the grid. Winter is a fantastic time to sharpen your eye for distance and striding. I place ground poles throughout the ring, often on a serpentine and a few along the long side. Then I work at the canter to sharpen my eye to the distance (focus on having your horse’s leading front hoof land directly before the rail) and to then vary the striding while maintaining the rhythm, balance and engagement. You can do this over fences too — smaller jumps if you’re limited on space. I use Swedish oxers (you can jump them from either direction) so you have more versatility with the fences and the small space. The “circle of death” exercise is great for limited space and can be difficult to conquer. Use caution, as it is very tiring. I also play with my stirrup length, shortening them to build strength and balance. While my horse flats, I will sustain my galloping position — you’ll feel the burn quickly and it’s a nice way to focus on yourself while your horse is able to work freely.

How much snow is too much snow to ride in? It doesn’t snow that much where I live, but during the big snow storms I wonder if I should just give my horse time off. (Submitted by EN reader Brad)

Katie: I prefer to not ride in snow once it starts to approach the knee. If the snow is much higher than the fetlock, I walk and occasionally trot. My biggest concern is any ice or slippery, packed snow beneath that could cause injury. Sometimes we get a thick layer of ice on top of the snow. I skip those days, as it can cut their legs. Another concern is if the snow is balling up in their shoes; this can cause them to slip or trip. Keep in mind that riding in snow can be a far more isolated workout then schooling on traditional footing — think snowshoeing without the snowshoes. Listen to your horse; be aware of fatigue. If in doubt, if does not hurt to take a day off.

The EN team has been on high alert for the USEF Spring Training Lists since we started seeing Facebook and Twitter updates from the lucky riders who made it last night. Thankfully Doomsday held off long enough for us to get the scoop on who new coach David O’Connor and USEF Eventing High Performance believe will take the U.S. program to the next level. Now that the lists are out and we’ve had some time to look at who made it and who didn’t, we believe the lists have a lot to say about the direction David plans to take this program. It’s clear David is looking to the future, with many younger horses and riders named to the list, which is specifically geared toward preparing a team for the World Equestrian Games in 2014. We’ll continue to bring you more analysis on the lists, as well as reactions from the riders. If you missed the lists, you can view them here.

What does Sinead and Tate’s placement as the sole pair on the Global List say?

Get it, girl. Enough said. After being left off the Olympic team — a decision many in the eventing community believed to be unjust — Sinead and Tate made an incredible statement by finishing second at Burghley. The USEF and David are wisely acknowledging this pair’s talent and potential for the future by placing them on the Global List. While it’s slightly disconcerting that the USEF believes we only have one pair capable of winning anywhere in the world at this point, we also should be encouraged. If Burghley is any indicator, Sinead and Tate would serve brilliantly as an anchor team at WEG. And many of the pairs on the World Class list are just waiting to prove themselves.

What does the World Class List say about the future of U.S. eventing?

Maybe I’m still fired up from reading about David’s sessions at the USEA Convention, but between knowing how prepared David is to take the U.S. program to the next level and seeing the surplus of capable pairs on the World Class list, all I can say is, “Watch out, Germany.” Many of these riders have represented the U.S. at the Olympics, WEG, Pan Ams, Nations Cup, and other major competitions. I can say confidently and without a doubt that each of these pairs deserve to be on the list. Kudos to the USEF for pulling together such a fantastic group. The future of U.S. eventing is very bright indeed with these very talented horses and riders at the helm.

What does the National List say about the future of U.S. eventing?

The National List is a bit more muddled. I’m sure many of these riders were doing a happy dance when they were notified yesterday of their inclusion on the list, while others were scratching their heads wondering why they didn’t make the World Class List. It’s particularly interesting to see Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister and Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos on the National List. Since Tiana just represented the U.S. at the Olympics, many will view this as a step down for her. See below for more of my thoughts on Tiana. Neville, who defied death twice and captured the hearts of millions, was the highest placing U.S. horse at the 2010 WEGs and a favorite for the Olympic team; I expected to see him on the World Class List.

How did the 2012 Olympic team fare on the lists?

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere — We can only speculate at this point, but Otis being left off the lists might indicate that there are ongoing unsoundness issues we don’t know about. Last we heard, Otis had an infection in his leg and was scheduled for four months off, which should have him set to come back into work at the beginning of next year. It’s possible he wouldn’t have been back into work long enough to justify going to the spring training sessions. We hope to catch up with Boyd shortly and get the scoop. Stay tuned.

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper — The horse, owned by Jim and Arden Wildasin, has returned to his owners and will continue his competition career under Arden. Mystery Whisper was only intended to serve as Phillip’s mount for the Olympics, hence why we’re not seeing him on the list.

Will Coleman and Twizzel — Will and Twizzel had the Stop That Must Not Be Named at the Olympics, but I don’t think that’s why they’re not appearing on any of the lists. With WEG being the focus of the lists, it’s likely Twiz will just be a bit too old to aim for Normandy. He’ll be 18 in 2014, and while there are certainly old campaigners like Lenamore actively competing at the upper levels, it seems the USEF wanted to focus on younger horses.

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister — There are many ways to analyze Tiana’s placement on the National List. Some might say it’s a blow to be placed on the National list mere months after representing the U.S. at the Olympics. But I’d like to put a positive spin on it. After a less-than-stellar performance at the Olympics, it says a lot about David’s faith in Tiana and Finian to redeem themselves at the highest levels.

Which notable riders and horses didn’t make any of the lists?

It’s interesting these lists were published on Doomsday, as I imagine many riders who were left off the lists feel like it’s the end of the world. While I am perplexed at some of the notable names that are nowhere to be found, I also believe we need to put our faith in David and the USEF right now. This is a program in flux and transition, and we have to trust that David knows what he’s doing and knows what’s best for this program. That said, here’s some notable names and horses we expected to see on the lists:

Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz — Colleen and Luke have tackled five four of the world’s six four-star events, and this pair has an incredible track record on cross country. They could easily be on the World Class List, and certainly on the National List. So why were they left off? I have two theories. One is that the Mayans were right and the world really is ending today. The second is that Luke will be 16 in 2014. After looking at the ages of some of the other horses who didn’t make the list, it seems like the USEF and David are looking to invest in younger mounts. That said, if you’ve ever seen Luke go cross country, you know he’s a beast and age is just a number to him. Colleen’s husband Brian’s Twitter account registered a great deal of frustration this morning; his sentiments are undoubtedly shared by many in the eventing community.

Sally Cousins and Ideal Contini — Sally is putting together a syndicate for this horse and has made it very clear that she is aiming him toward the WEG. I expected to at least see them on the National List.

Will Coleman and Zipp — Will doesn’t appear on any of the training lists. His up-and-coming mount Zipp had a strong showing in the CCI2* at Fair Hill in October, so I expected to see this pair on a list.

1:41pm Update: We just heard from Will that he recently sold Zipp.

Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott/Mandiba — We expected Karen to retire from international competition with David stepping into his coaching role, as the two made it clear they viewed it as a conflict of interest for her to continue riding on teams. Even if the USEF had found a workaround, Karen’s spine injuries from her rotational fall at Morven Park likely would have kept her off the lists regardless.

Jan Byyny and Inmidair — Jan and Inmidair appeared on last year’s USEF B List. Some trouble on cross country at the Fair Hill CCI3* may have kept them off a list this year.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM — I love this horse, so I was definitely disappointed not to see his name on a list. Reggie went to the WEG in 2010 and has an incredibly solid competition record. Luckily for Buck, he has two other horses that appear on the list.

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere — As previously mentioned, it’s surprising that Otis isn’t on a list. Boyd has four other horses on the list, so he certainly won’t be left out, but it’s odd to see his Olympic mount — not to mention a horse that is such an incredible athlete — not be included.

What do you think about the lists? Who are you happy to see on the lists? Who do you think should have made it? We’ll continue to bring you more analysis on the lists as we have more time to break them down. In the meantime, leave us your own analysis in the comments.

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Today is the end of the world, according to the Mayans anyways. I’m actually something of an expert on end-of-world scenarios, as I debated competitively in college. Policy debate is all about trying to convince the judge that your plan will save the world, while the opponent’s plan will bring about death and destruction, namely through nuclear war, genocide, extinction, etc. I promise it’s more exciting than it sounds. Anyways, a big rumor in the policy debate community is that the song “It’s The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. was actually written after the band witnessed a policy debate. So while I can assure you that there are many scenarios out there under which the world could end, today is not one of those days.  Kate Chadderton asked earlier this week on Facebook: “Does anyone know what time on Friday the world is ending? Trying to plan my day.” That got me wondering how the rest of Eventing Nation is spending Doomsday. Here’s how some of your favorite eventing personalities are celebrating the end of the world as we know it.

EN asks: How are you spending Doomsday?

Sinead Halpin: “I plan on outsmarting Doomsday … and it will work or it won’t. I am flying back to New Jersey from Vancouver, so I shall be on a plane all day, which for anyone who knows me knows I HATE flying, but if the world is ending the safest place to be is most likely on a plane … until we run out of fuel … or we get hit by lightning … or the turbulence gets us … or a wing falls off … or the pilot has a heart attack … or the engine dies … Goodbye, EN … forever.”

Sally Cousins: “The poor Mayans seem to be seriously misunderstood. I have a bunch of youngsters to ride tomorrow who need no further encouragement to misbehave. So I hope the day proceeds without incident, either by ancient calendars or naughty babies!”

Denny Emerson: “Ride several horses — what better way to kick the bucket?”

Katie Ruppel:  “I’m not sure what I’ll be doing, but I know I’ll be doing it clumsily and one-handed since my right arm is casted up after Wednesday’s epic dislocation. Lucky for me, I’ve got a sniff of  ‘the good stuff’ still running through my veins, so I’m counting on that to soften the blow.”

Jennie Brannigan: “Today we’re having a big True Prospect Farm Christmas dinner at a sushi restaurant, so it could be fairly interesting.”

Colleen Rutledge: “I’ve considered many things to mark Doomsday, like telling everyone what I think of them (oh, pretty much do that on a regular daily basis), drinking too much (if there’s a chance I don’t have to suffer a hangover, I just might, but I really hate hangovers so I probably won’t), spending all of my money (already did that, it’s Christmas time with kids), but for the most part I already live life the best I can, so I don’t need to do much to celebrate the end of the world!”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
“It’s The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. 

EN’s Got Talent is Eventing Nation’s newest series. We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? This series introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

Liberty and Kate at the Virginia Horse Trials. Photo by Brant Gamma.

It’s about time we highlighted an off-track Thoroughbred in EN’s Got Talent. Kate Chadderton has always been drawn to track horses, with her interest in OTTBs beginning in her native Australia and following her to the States. She has three OTTBs at her farm in Woodbine, Md., with 7-year-old Civil Liberty being one of her most exciting upper-level prospects.

Purchased by adult amateur Susan Southard as a 3-year-old off the track, Liberty successfully evented through training level. But his quirky personality ultimately led to the horse being offered for sale. Kate heard about him through a mutual friend and vetted him down in Aiken last March.

“He’s not a very impressive horse to look at,” Kate said. “He’s actually quite small. But when he walked out of his stall I saw how every part of his body moved. He used all of his muscles and joints. He almost looked like a panther; you could tell that he was very athletic. He looked like he could do anything and he looked very self aware. He just really looked like an athlete.”

Kate saw Liberty for the first time on a Thursday, had him vetted by Kevin Keane on a Friday, bought him that day and took him to an event on Saturday. “The first cross-country jump I ever took him over was the first one out of the start box,” Kate said. “I really fell in love with him.”

Kate and Liberty. Photo courtesy of Kate Chadderton.

Liberty ran double clear on cross country at that event, kicking off what would become a very successful career with Kate at the helm. Kate, who owns Liberty in partnership with Patrick McCaun, planned to move the horse up to preliminary in 2011 and tackle the one-star at Bromont. But, as often happens with horses, her best laid plans went awry.

A freak accident and what seemed like a minor cut on Liberty’s leg ended up requiring surgery and a lengthy period of stall rest., with several bouts of colic interspersed throughout his recovery. Liberty returned to competition earlier this year. “He had done five prelims before he hurt himself, so we put him back to training at Full Gallop,” Kate said. “I wasn’t sure if he would ever be really sound again.”

But Liberty came back with a vengeance, moving back up to prelim at Pine Top and going on to tackle the one-star at Bromont, essentially completing Kate’s 2011 plan one year later. Liberty was back, and his partnership with Kate was stronger than ever, thanks in part to the long hours she spent nursing him back to health.

“I stayed outside his stall to watch him many nights and I think that’s when he started to like me,” Kate said. “I also think he got told off before for doing his little bucks and rears, but I would just give him a little pat and laugh and off we’d go. My personality appealed to him, like his did to mine.”

Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll break down Liberty’s performances at all three phases, take a look at his recent move up to intermediate and learn more about his personality. “I think he’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” Kate said. “I’ve had horses that are nicer on the flat. I’ve had horses that have been easier to ride. But he’s just the best all-around type I’ve ever had. By the time he gets to Advanced, I think his dressage scores will be excellent. He has that potential to go all the way.”

Hilary Burkemper and Pele II during the eventing demonstration.

The Tribal Cup, a charity equestrian event held last Saturday at the Modoc Arena in Santa Barbara, Calif., provided excellent exposure for eventing and hopefully converted many new enthusiasts for the sport. The event, which benefited the Tribal Trust Foundation, featured demonstrations on polo, natural horsemanship, eventing, cowboy dressage and foxhunting. Hilary Burkemper and her mare Pele II gave the eventing demonstration, which was reportedly very well received by spectators.

Upper-level eventer Wendy Wergeles, who helped coordinate the event, said “eventing received some very positive PR.” Announcer Kip Goldreyer, former senior editor of Practical Horseman, helped explain eventing to the spectators, many of whom learned about the sport for the first time. Roisin Ross, a dressage instructor, said she and her sister Fiona “spent the better part of the day trying to choose among polo, natural horsemanship or three-day eventing as our next equestrian endeavor.” We might be a bit biased, but we sincerely hope Roisin and Fiona choose eventing.

Well, we can’t argue with the headline. Visionaire unearthed this gem from the Lexington, Ky., Craigslist ads. Anyone in the market for an easy keeper … a VERY easy keeper? Sadly, the cart is NOT for sale.

The cheapest horse you will EVER own! – $650 (Grayson)

15.1 hh tall QH life sized fiberglass horse he is literally the best horse you will ever own… he doesnt buck, bite, rear, kick… he will stand where you put him for hours, days, weeks, even months and not wander off or require fencing; he never needs his feet trimmed or the vet out to see him, he is immune to all equine diseases and parasites;l he doesnt eat a thing and still keeps his amazing figure, no exercise or turnout needed for this guy… He will be the best horse you ever owned….
CART NOT FOR SALE

Click here for the original ad.

While the eventing community adopted streaking as its official method of celebrating earlier this year, it looks like crowd surfing is mounting an end-of-year challenge. Tori New sent us this video of Jacob Fletcher, who was named to the 2013 Developing Riders list Friday, crowd surfing at Mike Huber’s Gold Chip Christmas Party.  Way to celebrate in style! Jacob and Fletcher Farms’ The Prof, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding, will participate in the Ocala, Fla., training session at Meredyth South on Jan. 27-Feb. 1. You can view the other riders on the Developing list here. Eventing Nation would like to extend a big “congrats” to all the talented riders named to the Developing Riders list. Go crowd surfing!